Page 51 of Vows in Sin

Still, I don’t stop. Not until the last man is in a vehicle, cars roaring past me, tires squealing, red taillights vanishing into the dark.

And then?—

A blast hits.

Not one.

Three.

From inside the walls. Sirens scream, too late. Too late.

I’m thrown back, the shockwave slamming me into a pile of scorched debris. My vision swims.

But when I look up?—

The Village is burning. And my family?

They’re alive.

Because I listened to instinct. Because I followed a lead. Because she made me see what I’d missed.

Seraphina.

Her chaos. Her light. Thoughts of her pushing me toward the truth. I know it makes no sense—that she has nothing to do with the Morrettis; that my dreams of her are as meaningless as the conclusions I’ve reached through her today.

Yet…

She was there all the same.

I push myself up from the ground, standing on painful joints. Ash rains down like snow, soft and deadly. It coats my shoulders, clings to my skin, settles in my hair like a crown of dust.

I’m shoved into the back of a car. The door closes, pulling away.

This isn’t the end.

It’s just the beginning.

They’ve declared war.

19

Seraphina

I’m not sure how much longer I can get away with this. I take another sip of sparkling wine, staring out over the beautiful city, the sparkling water of the River Tiber peacefully flowing below. The breeze flutters my curls and the hem of my colorful dress.

I told Cleopatra I needed to go to Rome so I could scope out the perfect bachelorette party spot. A place where we can wine and dine her Bachman friends, celebrate her upcoming nuptials while hopefully loosening some tongues and learning some Bachman ceremony secrets so Cleopatra isn’t a bundle of nerves and can enjoy her wedding day.

I lied.

Well, not entirely.

I will scope out party venues. After this last glass of wine.

The truth is, I ran away.

I couldn’t take it anymore. Telling Cleopatra about Sissi was more cleansing than I anticipated. And more painful as well. I talked to Dame. We’re friends now. It’s fine. But I can’t see him stroll by and not think of Reign.

It’s weird, I know.